Turbine blade assembly

Abstract

A turbine system includes a shaft extending along an axis. A first spoke has a first end, attached to the shaft, and a second end. A second spoke has a first end, attached to the shaft, and a second end. A third spoke has a first end, attached to the shaft, and a second end. A turbine blade is attached to the second end of the first spoke, the second end of the second spoke, and the second end of the third spoke. The turbine blade extends continuously circumferentially about the axis. The turbine blade is spaced a distance apart from the axis and in non-contact with the shaft.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A turbine system comprising:
 a shaft extending along an axis; 
 a first spoke having a first end, attached to the shaft, and a second end; 
 a second spoke having a first end, attached to the shaft, and a second end; 
 a third spoke having a first end, attached to the shaft, and a second end; 
 a turbine blade attached to the second end of the first spoke, the second end of the second spoke, and the second end of the third spoke, the turbine blade extending continuously circumferentially about the axis, the turbine blade spaced a distance apart from the axis and in non-contact with the shaft, the turbine blade comprising:
 a first valley defined by a first valley curve; 
 a second valley defined by a second valley curve; 
 a third valley defined by a third valley curve; 
 a first peak defined by a first peak curve; 
 a second peak defined by a second peak curve; and 
 a third peak defined by a third peak curve, wherein each of the first peak, the second peak, and the third peak are bordered by at least one of the first valley, the second valley, and the third valley, 
 
 wherein: 
 the first peak curve is tangent to the first valley curve at a point of inflection and along a first line of tangency that is oriented in a radial direction, 
 the second peak curve is tangent to the second valley curve at a point of inflection and along a second line of tangency that is oriented in a radial direction, and 
 the third peak curve is tangent to the third valley curve at a point of inflection and along a third line of tangency that is oriented in a radial direction. 
 
     
     
       2. The turbine system of  claim 1 , wherein a length of the turbine blade along the axis is greater than a thickness of the turbine blade perpendicular to the axis. 
     
     
       3. The turbine system of  claim 1 , wherein the turbine blade extends circumferentially about the axis while being spaced a non-constant distance from the axis. 
     
     
       4. The turbine system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first peak is disposed between the first spoke and the second spoke; 
 the second peak disposed between the second spoke and the third spoke; and 
 the third peak disposed between the third spoke and the first spoke, wherein the first peak, the second peak, and the third peak are spaced around a circumference of the shaft. 
 
     
     
       5. The turbine system of  claim 4 , wherein the first peak and the second peak are spaced apart by between 100 degrees and 140 degrees. 
     
     
       6. The turbine system of  claim 5 , wherein the first peak and the second peak are spaced apart by about 120 degrees. 
     
     
       7. The turbine system of  claim 1 , wherein the turbine blade further comprises an inner face and an outer face, and the inner face and the outer face alternate the directions in which they face. 
     
     
       8. The turbine system of  claim 7 , wherein the turbine blade further comprises a first side and a second side, wherein the inner face faces toward the first side and the outer face faces the second side at a first location on the turbine blade, and the inner face faces toward the second side and the outer face faces the first side at a second location on the turbine blade. 
     
     
       9. The turbine system of  claim 8 , wherein the inner face is oriented to face toward the axis while the outer face is oriented to face away from the axis. 
     
     
       10. The turbine system of  claim 1  wherein:
 at least one of the first valley, the second valley, and the third valley defines a fluid path oriented at an oblique angle to the axis, wherein: 
 the fluid path is defined by an inner face impinged by a wind force and an outer face not impinged by the wind force, the inner face and the outer face joined by at least one of a peak or a valley, the wind force passing along the at least one of the peak or the valley imparting a helical rotation to the wind force, 
 each fluid path having the helical rotation in a first rotational direction that is opposite a second rotational direction in a first adjoining fluid path on a first side of the fluid path and opposite a third rotational direction in a second adjoining fluid path on a second side of the fluid path. 
 
     
     
       11. The turbine system of  claim 1 , the turbine blade comprising:
 an outer face oriented away from the axis; and 
 an inner face oriented towards the axis; 
 wherein at a first location of the turbine blade, the inner face faces a first direction along the axis and the outer face faces a second direction along the axis, and at a second location of the turbine blade, the inner face faces the second direction along the axis, and the outer face faces the first direction along the axis. 
 
     
     
       12. The turbine system of  claim 1 , wherein a radius of the first peak curve is equal to a radius of the first valley curve. 
     
     
       13. The turbine system of  claim 1 , wherein a radius of the first peak curve is equal to a radius of the second peak curve. 
     
     
       14. The turbine system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 a radius of the first peak curve is equal to a radius of the second peak curve, 
 a radius of the first valley curve is equal to a radius of the second valley curve, and 
 the radius of the first peak curve is equal to the radius of the first valley curve. 
 
     
     
       15. A turbine system comprising:
 a shaft extending along an axis; 
 at least one spoke having a first end, attached to the shaft, and a second end; and 
 a turbine blade attached to the second end of the at least one spoke, the turbine blade extending continuously circumferentially about the axis, the turbine blade spaced a distance apart from the axis and in non-contact with the shaft, the turbine blade comprising:
 a first valley defined by a first valley curve; 
 a second valley defined by a second valley curve; 
 a third valley defined by a third valley curve; 
 a first peak defined by a first peak curve; 
 a second peak defined by a second peak curve; and 
 a third peak defined by a third peak curve, wherein each of the first peak, the second peak, and the third peak are bordered by at least one of the first valley, the second valley, and the third valley, 
 
 wherein: 
 the first peak curve is tangent to the first valley curve at a point of inflection and along a first line of tangency that is oriented in a radial direction, 
 the second peak curve is tangent to the second valley curve at a point of inflection and along a second line of tangency that is oriented in a radial direction, and 
 the third peak curve is tangent to the third valley curve at a point of inflection and along a third line of tangency that is oriented in a radial direction.